Heritage Community Park Improvements Master Plan

Initial Heritage Community Park Improvements Master Plan 

In 2017, the City of Irvine developed a master plan for Heritage Community Park. Opened in 1978, many of the park's original facilities are still being used today. This plan focuses on enhancing the services and facilities provided within the approximately 44-acre community park. Currently, Heritage Community Park offers a variety of activities and supports a range of recreational needs through facilities on-site, which include the Heritage Park Community Center, Irvine Fine Arts Center, Child Resource Center, the William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, numerous sports fields, play areas, and picnic areas.

When funding was allocated to prepare a Master Plan for rehabilitating the park, staff and their design consultant, MIG, analyzed the site, conducted extensive community outreach, and developed various conceptual alternatives for the Master Plan.

As the last step in the master plan process, the City finalized its environmental review of the Master Plan document. A preferred park alternative concept was created utilizing feedback received during the community outreach process. The resulting master plan document reflects the collaboration of several stakeholders, including residents, park patrons, park staff, the Irvine Unified School District (IUSD), the fine arts community, and numerous City committees and commissions.

In addition, the City extended project timelines to incorporate and coordinate planning efforts at other properties located immediately adjacent to the park site. Specifically, IUSD recently built a state-of-the-art theater at Irvine High School. The City is also transitioned from the Orange County Public Library (OCPL) to a City-run public library system, which will result in the modernization of the Heritage Community Park Library. These efforts were coordinated with the Master Plan to ensure maximum efficiency and compatibility.

Project Updates

Master Plan
The City used feedback provided at various stakeholder, community, and committee/commission meetings to develop the Master Plan.

The Master Plan includes several improvements related to the long-term redevelopment of the park, including, but not limited to:

  • A new, larger community center that will incorporate current recreation programs with youth/middle school programs, the nursery school, and the Child Resource Center.
  • ​An expanded and modernized Irvine Fine Arts Center.
  • An additional 50-meter pool at Woollett Aquatics Center.
  • An additional parking area in the northwest portion of the park and an expanded parking area along Walnut Avenue.
  • Addition of a multi-use platform in the picnic area for recreational activities.
  • Creation of pickleball courts on an existing tennis court, as space allows. 

Detailed information on the long-term vision for the park is provided in the Heritage Community Park Master Plan. 

Heritage Community Park Master Plan

Environmental Review

After the Master Plan documents were completed, the City’s environmental consultant, PlaceWorks, conducted a thorough environmental review of the proposed project improvements. The City released a Notice of Intent (NOI) to adopt a Mitigated Negative Declaration (MND) for the project. In response to the NOI and MND, the City received 20 comments, most of which requested to be placed on the interest list. A Notice of Determination (NOD) was approved February 18, 2025. Copies of the related documents are provided below: